Lake Sacajawea has many of the over-wintering waterfowl now. A Eurasion Wigeon was spotted on 12/2/14 and other waterfowl seen have been Wood Duck, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Greater and Lesser Scaup, Ring-necked, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead and even Hooded Merganser. We also have seen many Double-crested Cormorants as well as Pied-billed Grebes. On 12/01/14 a Bald Eagle swooped down and made off with a Gull(did not catch the species) for breakfast.

All this can be seen in our back yard here in Longview just get out, walk the lake and observe. You may even catch a glimpse of one of our resident River Otters.

There is an active Osprey nest west of Woodland next to the Columbia River in a public access area. Robert VanNatta was able to park beside where he set up the camera outside the dike. He got quite a show that morning as an eagle came by just after these photos were taken, and the Osprey went after the eagle and chased it off.

Another year with a nice start, mostly due to a fine Christmas Bird Count on New Years Day. The headliner was the second ever record of Rusty Blackbird for Cowlitz County found on 52nd Ave in west Longview. A Sora found the same day on Washburn Road was very unusual for winter. Keep those reports coming.

On December 27, during his daily walk around Lake Sacajawea in Longview, John Green found a dead Bald Eagle at the edge of the lake. It is illegal to collect wild birds, per the Federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, so he did not touch the bird, determined to find the proper action to take.

Upon arriving home, he called Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, who were not interested (maybe not their jurisdiction) and recommended to call Portland Audubon. Audubon gave him the number for the Federal Fish and Wildlife office. These folks have committed to picking up the bird, which upon their direction was stored in a plastic bag in his freezer. They advised that there is a demand for Native American ceremonial use and the feathers will be donated after a necropsy is performed to determine cause of death.

It has been determined that the eagle died in a collision with a motor vehicle probably in flight over the Washington Way bridge.

The Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is citizen-science at its best and this year's will be the 114th. You can help with this effort, whether you have ever gone bird watching or not. You will have the opportunity to meet new people with interests in birds, or spend time with friends from previous years. Again this year WHAS sponsors the following CBC's:

Leadbetter CBC on Saturday Dec 21th: contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. before December 10thCount Circle areas include the Pacific Ocean beaches on the Long Beach Peninsula, Willapa Bay’s east shore mid-point on the peninsula to the tip of Leadbettter point on the Willapa National Wildlife Refuge and the west side of the bay from the Naselle River north to Bay Center, WA.

Wahkiakum CBC on Sunday Dec 29th: contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Count Circle include portions of the Skamokawa, Puget Island, Cathlamet, and Brownsmead areas.

Cowlitz Coweeman Columbia CBC on Wednesday January 1st: contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.Count circle areas include East Oregon, West Oregon, South Washington, East Washington, West Washington, and North Washington

This is your chance to help collect the information which will direct decisions in the future, decisions which will affect how much natural beauty, including birds, remains for future generations.

Bring your binoculars if you have some, boots, warm clothes and a lunch, and join us for a day outside, looking closely at some of Nature's most interesting creatures, sharing the day with people who have similar interests.